What is Rajamannar Committee (1969-1971)?
Historical Background
Key Points
12 points- 1.
One key recommendation was that residuary legislative powers should be vested in the States. Currently, if a subject is not explicitly mentioned in the Union, State, or Concurrent Lists of the Seventh Schedulethe part of the Constitution that divides powers between the Union and the States, the power to legislate on it rests with the Union Parliament. The Committee argued this should be changed to empower States.
- 2.
The Committee advocated for the deletion of Article 356, which allows the President's Rule to be imposed on a State. Alternatively, it suggested strict limitations on its use to prevent arbitrary dismissal of State governments. This was driven by concerns that the central government was misusing this provision for political purposes. For example, between 1950 and 1967, Article 356 was invoked 13 times, but in the two years 1967-1969 it was invoked 11 times.
- 3.
The Rajamannar Committee argued that the Planning Commission should not dominate fiscal relations between the Union and the States. They felt that the Planning Commission, which allocated funds to states, had become too powerful and reduced the financial autonomy of the states. They wanted states to have more control over how they used plan funds.
Recent Real-World Examples
1 examplesIllustrated in 1 real-world examples from Feb 2026 to Feb 2026
Source Topic
Redefining Federalism: Compact Based on Non-Domination for Cooperative Governance
Polity & GovernanceUPSC Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
61. What's the most common MCQ trap regarding the Rajamannar Committee, specifically concerning Article 356?
The most common trap is misinterpreting the Committee's stance on Article 356. Students often incorrectly assume the Committee advocated for its amendment, when in reality, it recommended its *outright deletion* or, failing that, stringent limitations on its use. Examiners exploit this by offering options that suggest 'amendment' as the primary recommendation.
Exam Tip
Remember: Rajamannar Committee wanted Article 356 gone (or severely restricted), not just tweaked. Think 'delete' or 'limit,' not 'amend'.
2. The Rajamannar Committee and the Sarkaria Commission both dealt with Centre-State relations. What is the KEY difference in their approaches?
While both examined Centre-State relations, the Rajamannar Committee, appointed by the Tamil Nadu government, adopted a more radical approach, advocating for significantly greater state autonomy, including the deletion of Article 356 and vesting residuary powers in the states. The Sarkaria Commission, appointed by the central government, took a more balanced approach, aiming to strengthen Centre-State cooperation *within* the existing constitutional framework, without advocating for fundamental changes to the balance of power.
